(CelebrityAccess) — Just a week after announcing the cancellation of the final fourteen dates of his "Purpose" world tour, singer Justin Bieber revealed that he is reportedly planning on "taking a break" from music.
According to TMZ, Bieber's decision to cancel the tour was influenced by his relationship with Carl Lentz, the pastor of the Hillsong Church, a Pentecostal "megachurch" in Sydney, New South Wales, which is affiliated with Australian Christian Churches, the Australian branch of the Assemblies of God. The church also has outlets in the U.S., including Sunday services at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City and the Wellmont Theatre in St. Clair, NJ.
While Bieber has not officially cast his lot with the church, he has appeared in public with Lentz on numerous occasions, including appearing at the Hillsong Conference in Sydney earlier this month where viewers were treated to the spectacle of Justin brushing his teeth during an on-camera interview.
In the same interview, Justin was asked why he attended Hillsong and responded by saying: "I just enjoy seeing people worship, praising God. It’s just real, authentic."
According to GQ Magazine, Bieber lived with Lentz for a month and a half in 2016. Lentz told the publication that he baptized Bieber after the young singer approached him to express "feelings of loss" and a desire to "know Jesus" prompting the pastor to perform an immediate, impromptu baptism on Bieber.
Other performers who have attended the church's New York City branch include Bono, Selena Gomez and Kevin Durant.
Interestingly, in addition to the usual megachurch fare, Hillsong also operates Hillsong Music, which heretofore at least, has released Christian-themed music produced by Hillsong Church in Sydney, Australia as well as offshoot churches, Hillsong London and Hillsong Kiev.
Justin Bieber's management did not respond to a request for comment.
